Multi-purpose tool

ABSTRACT

A multi-purpose tool operated by a user for storing, opening, cutting, clamping and holding of articles is provided. The multi-purpose tool includes a first shear, a second shear movably coupled to the first shear at a pivot point and a ratchet extending from each finger grip. Each shear includes a finger grip, cutting edges, tines and gripping tips. Further, the multi-purpose tool includes ratchet extending from respective finger grips. Each ratchet having a plurality of ratchet teeth defined therein, the ratchets extending towards each other. The first cutting edge and the second cutting edge are adapted for extending around the article in a firm grip by engagement of the ratchets in order to clamp the article between the first cutting edge and the second cutting edge.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

The present invention claims priority of the provisional patentapplication No. 62/016,830 filed on Jun. 25, 2014; all of which areincorporated herein by reference in their entireties.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention generally relates to a multi-functional scissortool and more specifically, the present invention particularly relatesto a multi-purpose tool operated by a user for storing, opening,cutting, clamping and holding of articles.

2. Description of Related Art

Multi-functional scissors are commonly used in day-to-day hospital andhealthcare related activities to perform various procedures. Suchprocedures include cutting objects, opening lids of bottles, andshearing various materials including human tissue and textile materialwhile performing surgery and other medical treatment. In existingmulti-functional scissors, the scissor may include a variety of featuressuch as a magnifying glass, a scaling function, or a cutting functionhaving a simple structure and easy to use option with wide range ofapplications.

In other existing multi-functional scissor, the versatile cuttingscissor can be used not only for shearing goods, but also to function asa screw tightener for repairing household appliances. In an existingmulti-functional tool designed for the needs of healthcareprofessionals, the multi-functional tool may include individual toolsthat a healthcare professional uses on a regular basis that includes: agas cylinder wrench, an integrated pill slicer, a sharp/dullneurological response tester, and a gripping device for intravenouscaps.

Additional features may include a penlight or laser pointer and a foldout ruler. A tool carrier exists which includes features that healthcareprofessionals also regularly use, that include a tape roll holder anddispenser and retractable ring for keys and security badges. Variousmulti-purpose scissors available in the market fail to provide clampingof medical fluid tubes while holding the IV hub along with otherfeatures. Therefore, there is a need to provide a multi-purpose toolthat allows clamping of medical tubing in between the gripping tips andfurther allowing holding of medical hubs which incrementally increasespressure in relation to the engagement of the ratchets.

Furthermore, there is a need to open the valve of gas cylinders, storageof tape, a plier/hemostat front metal grip allowing for opening andprying of various objects, and a metal teeth center allowing forgripping and opening bottles of medications and loosening IV polescrews.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the teachings of the present invention, amulti-purpose tool operated by a user for storing, opening, cutting,clamping and holding of articles is provided.

An object of the present invention is to provide a multi-purpose toolincluding a first shear and a second shear movably coupled to the firstshear at a pivot point. The first shear includes a first finger grip forreceiving at least one finger of a user, a first tine extending from thefirst finger grip, a first cutting edge extending from the tine having afirst curved inner surface front end, a first gripping tip attached tothe front end of the first cutting edge.

The second shear includes a second finger grip for receiving at leastone finger of a user, a second tine extending from the second fingergrip positioned substantially parallel to the first tine, wherein theinner surface of the first tine and the second tine curved to form afirst opening for holding articles when the first finger grip is in aclosed position to the second finger grip.

The second shear further includes a second cutting edge extending fromthe second tine having a second curved inner surface front end, whereinthe first curved inner surface front end and the second curved innersurface forms a second opening for holding substantially smallerarticles when the first finger grip is in close position to the secondfinger grip, a second gripping tip attached to the second cutting edgefor gripping of articles against the first gripping tip.

The multi-purpose tool further includes a ratchet extending from eachfinger grip, each ratchet having a plurality of ratchet teeth definedtherein, the ratchets extend towards each other and wherein the firstcutting edge and the second cutting edge are adapted for extendingaround the article in a firm grip by engagement of the ratchets in orderto clamp the article between the first cutting edge inner surface frontend or the first gripping tip and the second cutting edge inner surfacefront end or the second gripping tip front end.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a multi-purposetool wherein the first opening stores at least one article such asmedical tape, when the first finger grip is far from the second fingergrip, further the article moves over at least one of the finger grips tostore in the first opening.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a multi-purposetool further includes a ruler bar either on the first shear or thesecond shear. Further, the multi-purpose tool includes an oxygen keyattached to at least one of the finger grips, and a bottle openerconfigured in the inner surface of at least one the finger grips.

Further, the multi-purpose tool includes a screw driver tip configuredon the outer surface of at least one of the finger grips. Further, themulti-purpose tool includes a light source protruding from the outersurface of at least one of the finger grips, and a power sourceconfigured in between at least one of the tine and at least one of therespective finger grips to power the light source.

Another object of the present invention is to provide the multi-purposetool includes a carabineer configured in between at least one of thetines and at least one of the respective finger grips to securearticles.

These and other features and advantages will become apparent from thefollowing detailed description of illustrative embodiments thereof,which is to be read in connection with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of a multi-purpose tool inaccordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 illustrates another perspective view of a multi-purpose toolshowing ratchet in accordance with another preferred embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 3 illustrates another perspective view of the multi-purpose toolshowing a bottle opener configured in the inner surface of at least oneof the finger grips in accordance with another preferred embodiment ofthe present invention;

FIG. 4 illustrates another perspective view of the multi-purpose toolshowing oxygen key attached to at least one of the finger grips inaccordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 illustrates another perspective view of the multi-purpose toolshowing screw driver tip configured on at least one of the finger gripsin accordance with another preferred embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 6 illustrates another perspective view of the multi-purpose toolshowing the first opening for tightening and opening of medicalequipment knobs in accordance with another preferred embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 7 illustrates another perspective view of the multi-purpose toolshowing the first opening for storing of articles in accordance withanother preferred embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 8 illustrates another perspective view of the multi-purpose toolshowing the second opening for storing of a IV/Medical tube inaccordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention.

The foregoing summary, as well as the following detailed description ofcertain embodiments of the present invention, will be better understoodwhen read in conjunction with the appended drawings. For the purpose ofillustrating the invention, certain embodiments are shown in thedrawings. It should be understood, however, that the present inventionis not limited to the arrangements and instrumentality shown in theattached drawings.

It will be appreciated that for simplicity and clarity of illustration,elements shown in the figures have not necessarily been drawn accuratelyor to scale. For example, the dimensions of some of the elements may beexaggerated relative to other elements for clarity. Similarly one orseveral physical components may be included in one functional block orelement or divided into more than one functional unit or element.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

While this technology is illustrated and described in a preferredembodiment multi-purpose tool operated by a user for storing, opening,clamping, cutting and holding of articles to a user may be produced inmany different configurations, forms and materials. There is depicted inthe drawings, and will herein be described in detail, as a preferredembodiment of the invention, with the understanding that the presentdisclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the principlesof the invention and the associated functional specifications for itsconstruction and is not intended to limit the invention to theembodiment illustrated. Those skilled in the art will envision manyother possible variations within the scope of the technology describedherein.

Reference will now be made in detail to several embodiments of theinvention which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Whereverfeasible and convenient, the same reference numerals are used in thefigures and the description to refer to the same or like parts. Thedrawings are in a simplified form and not to precise scale. For purposesof convenience and clarity only, directional terms, such as top, bottom,left, right, up, down, over, above, below, beneath, rear, and front maybe used with respect to the accompanying drawings.

These and similar directional terms should not be strictly construed tolimit the scope of the invention. In addition, words such as attached,affixed, coupled, connected and similar terms with their inflectionalmorphemes are used interchangeably, unless the difference is noted ormade otherwise clear from the context. These words and expressions donot necessarily signify direct connections, but include connectionsthrough mediate components and devices.

FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of a multi-purpose tool 100 forstoring, cutting, clamping, opening and holding of articles (not shownin FIG. 1) in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the presentinvention. The multi-purpose tool 100 includes a first shear 102 and asecond shear 104 movably coupled to the first shear at a pivot point106. Examples of articles include but not limited to medical tape,bottle with cap, IV tubes, oxygen cylinder etc.

The first shear 102 includes a first finger grip 108 for receiving atleast one finger of a user (not shown in FIG. 1), a first tine 110extending from the first finger grip 108, a first cutting edge 112extending from the first tine 110 is having a first curved inner surfacefront end 114, and a first gripping tip 116 attached to the first curvedinner surface front end 114 of the first cutting edge 112.

The second shear 104 includes a second finger grip 118 for receiving atleast one finger of the user and a second tine 120 extending from thesecond finger grip 118 positioned substantially parallel to the firsttine 110. Further, the inner surface of the first tine 110 and thesecond tine 120 curved to form a first opening 122 adjacent to the pivotpoint 106 for storing of articles (not shown in FIG. 1). The firstfinger grip 108 and the second finger grip 118 are explained in detailin conjunction with FIG. 6 of the present invention. The first opening122 is explained in detail in conjunction with FIG. 6 and FIG. 7 of thepresent invention.

The second shear 104 includes a second cutting edge 124 extending fromthe second tine 120 having a second curved inner surface front end 126.The first curved inner surface front end 114 and the second curved innersurface front end 126 forms a second opening 127 for holdingsubstantially smaller articles, and a second gripping tip 128 attachedto the second cutting edge 124 for gripping of articles (not shown inFIG. 1) against the first gripping tip 116. The second opening 127 isexplained in detail in conjunction with FIG. 8 of the present invention.

Further, the multi-purpose tool 100 includes ratchets 109 extending fromeach finger grip i.e. the first finger grip 108 and the second fingergrip 118. The first shear 102 and the second shear 104 are adapted forextending around the article in a firm grip by engagements of theratchets 109 in order to clamp the article between the first shear 102and the second shear 104. The ratchets 109 are shown and explained indetail in conjunction with FIG. 2 of the present invention.

In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, themulti-purpose tool 100 further includes a ruler bar 130 on the firstcutting edge 112 to measure the cutting area of the article. Further,the multi-purpose tool 100 includes a carabineer 132 configured inbetween at least one of the first tine 110 and the first finger grip 108to secure the article.

In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, themulti-purpose tool 100 includes a light source 134 protruding from theouter surface of the first finger grip 108 and a power source 136configured in between the first tine 110 and the first finger grip 108to power the light source 134. In a preferred embodiment, the lightsource 134 is a LED and the power source 136 is a battery.

FIG. 2 illustrates a perspective view of a multi-purpose tool 200showing ratchets 202 such as a first ratchet 204 and a second ratchet206 extending from the first finger grip 208 and the second finger grip210, respectively in accordance with another preferred embodiment of thepresent invention.

Further, both the ratchets 202 include plurality of ratchet teeth 212for engaging with each other. The ratchet teeth 212 are grooves that fitin one another on application of force to incrementally increase theclamping pressure on the article by the user to bring the first ratchet204 and the second ratchet 206 close to each other.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the first ratchet204 and the second ratchet 206 are used to clamp IV tubes and thusfacilitating users to remove and or tighten the IV hubs and ends ofintravenous tubing. Further, the first ratchet 204 and the secondratchet 206 may be used for removal and tightening of other joints inthe intravenous tubing.

FIG. 3 illustrates another perspective view of the multi-purpose tool300 showing a bottle opener 302 configured in the inner surface 304 onthe first finger grip 306 in accordance with another preferredembodiment of the present invention. The bottle opener 302 is configuredfor opening of the bottle cap 308.

The bottle opener 302 is configured along the circumference of the firstfinger grip 306. Preferably, the bottle opener 302 is made of stainlesssteel for opening of bottle caps. It would be apparent to those skilledin the art that various uses of the bottle opener 302 may be envisionedwithout deviating from the scope of the present invention.

FIG. 4 illustrates another perspective view of the multi-purpose tool400 showing oxygen key 402 attached to the second finger grip 404 foroperating an oxygen tank valve 406 in accordance with another preferredembodiment of the present invention. The oxygen key 402 is an elongatedrectangular block preferably of stainless steel/aluminum configured tomatch the shape and size of the oxygen tank valve 406.

The oxygen key 402 either turns on or off the oxygen tank valve 406. Itwould be apparent to those skilled in the art that various uses of theoxygen key 402 may be envisioned without deviating from the scope of thepresent invention.

FIG. 5 illustrates another perspective view of the multi-purpose tool500 showing screw driver tip 502 configured on the first finger grip 504for opening screw 506 of a box 508 in accordance with another preferredembodiment of the present invention. The screw driver tip 502 is anelongated body extending away from the first finger grip 504.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the screw driver tip502 opens flathead and philips screw size no. 2. Further, in anotherpreferred embodiment of the present invention, the screw driver tip 502may further be used for splitting pills while they remain in packaging,scraping residue off articles and opening of cardboard boxes. It wouldbe apparent to those skilled in the art that various uses of screwdriver tip 502 may be envisioned without deviating from the scope of thepresent invention.

FIG. 6 illustrates another perspective view of the multi-purpose tool600 showing first opening 602 for grasping of knob 604 in accordancewith another preferred embodiment of the present invention. Withreference to FIG. 1, the first opening 602 has ribbed inner surface tofit around the knob 604 and further facilitates in screwing orunscrewing of the knob 604.

FIG. 7 illustrates another perspective view of the multi-purpose tool700 showing the first opening 702 for storing of a tape 704 inaccordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention.The first opening 702 allows the storage of tape 704 when the firstfinger grip 706 is far from the second finger grip 708. Further, thetape 704 moves over the first finger grip 706 to store in the firstopening 702.

FIG. 8 illustrates another perspective view of the multi-purpose tool800 showing the second opening 802 for holding of a IV/Medical hub 804in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the presentinvention. With reference to FIG. 1, the second opening 802 allows theuser to grab the medical tube 804 by bringing the finger grips closer.In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the ratchetsmay further be used to clamp the IV tube, so that it is easier to removethe IV/medical hub 804 without spillage of fluids.

The present invention offers various advantages especially in themedical field. The present invention offers frontline medical cliniciansto treat patients in a more efficient way. The present tool saves timeand effort of the user and further allowing increased focus on thepatient's clinical status. The present tool reduces hunting andgathering of individual equipments during critical medical needs of thepatient.

The many features and advantages of the invention are apparent from theabove description. It is apparent from the foregoing that a new andimproved multi-purpose tool has been provided. The invention is quitesimple and can be used on different surfaces. Many changes,modifications, variations and other uses and applications of the subjectinvention will, however, become apparent to those skilled in the artafter considering this specification and the accompanying drawings whichdisclose the preferred embodiments thereof. All such changes,modifications, variations and other uses and applications which do notdepart from the spirit and scope of the invention are deemed to becovered by the invention, which is to be limited only by the claimswhich follow.

1. A multi-purpose tool operated by a user for storing, opening,cutting, clamping and holding of articles comprising: a first shearcomprising: a first finger grip for receiving at least one finger of auser; a first tine extending from the first finger grip; a first cuttingedge extending from the first tine having a first curved inner surfacefront end; a first gripping tip attached to the front end of the firstcutting edge; and a second shear movably coupled to the first shear at apivot point comprising: a second finger grip for receiving at least onefinger of the user; a second tine extending from the second finger grippositioned substantially parallel to the first tine, wherein the innersurface of the first tine and the second tine curved to form a firstopening adjacent to the pivot point for opening of articles; a secondcutting edge extending from the second tine having a second curved innersurface front end, wherein the first curved inner surface front end andthe second curved inner surface forms a second opening for holdingsubstantially smaller articles; and a second gripping tip attached tothe second cutting edge for gripping of articles against the firstgripping tip; and a ratchet extending from each finger grip, eachratchet having a plurality of ratchet teeth defined therein, theratchets extending towards each other; wherein the first shear and thesecond shear are adapted for extending around the article in a firm gripby engagement of the ratchets in order to clamp the article between thefirst shear and the second shear.
 2. The multi-purpose tool according toclaim 1 wherein the first opening stores at least one article when thefirst finger grip is far from the second finger grip, further thearticle moves over at least one of the finger grips to store in thefirst opening.
 3. The multi-purpose tool according to claim 1 furthercomprising a ruler bar on at least one of the first cutting edge; andthe second cutting edge.
 4. The multi-purpose tool according to claim 1further comprising an oxygen key attached to at least one of the fingergrips.
 5. The multi-purpose tool according to claim 1 further comprisinga bottle opener configured in the inner surface of at least one of thefinger grips.
 6. The multi-purpose tool according to claim 1 furthercomprising a screw driver tip configured on the outer surface of atleast one of the finger grips.
 7. The multi-purpose tool according toclaim 1 further comprising: a light source protruding from the outersurface of at least one of the finger grips; and a power sourceconfigured in between at least one of the tine and at least one of therespective finger grips to power the light source.
 8. The multi-purposetool according to claim 1 further comprising a carabineer configured inbetween at least one of the tines and at least one of the respectivefinger grips to secure articles.
 9. The multi-purpose tool according toclaim 1 wherein the user depresses the finger grips to clamp a part ofthe article in between the ratchets.